Vacuum operated device



Jan. 18, 1938. MCKINLEY PALMER VACUUM OPERATED DEVICE Filed Jan. 21,1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. M5/77/VLEY BIL/Mm.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 18, 1938. MCKINLEY PALMER VACUUM OPERATED DEVICE Filed Jan. 21,1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PALMER.

atented Jan. 18, 193

2,105,496 VACUUM orsaa'rso DEVICE McKinley Palmer, Los Angeies, Calif.

Application January 21, 1935, Serial No. 2,662

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum operated devices.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved vacuumoperated device for valve mechanism.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein; v

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through anautomobile embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through my improved vacuumoperated device ioractuating the clutch of the automobile shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the carburetormanifold of the automobile shown in Fig. 1 and shows a control valve forthe vacuum operated device;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the vacuum operated device asactuated to a position to release the clutch'of the automobile;

Fig.5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing another position of thevalve; 7

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2

showing a portion of the device as it is in the act v of operating;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing antaken on line l2--l2 ofFig. 11.

partment is in which is positioned any type of internal combustionengine H. The driver's compartment and engine compartment are separatedby a transverse partition l8 which includes an inclined foot portion i9.

The engine I! includes the usual fuel intake manifold 20 whichcommunicates with the outlet manifold "2| of a carburetor 22. Theengine'll is adapted to, drive the usual drive shaft 23 through themedium of transmission mechanism, the'housing of which is indicated at24 and the usual clutch mechanism, the housing of which is indicated at25. As shown the clutch includes an operating shaft 21 which extends outof the housing 25. Mounted on the transmission housing 24 is shown astandard type hydraulic brake operating device 26 which operates, thebrakes through a distributor 28 from which pipes 29 partment. Thethrottle rod 32 is shown as resiliently urged in one direction by acoiled spring 34 one end of which is connected to the rod as at 35 andthe opposite end of which is anchored to the carburetor outlet manifoldas at 35.

In the accompanying drawings, I have indicated my vacuum operated clutchactuating device generally at 40. The device includes a hollowcylindrical'body portion 4i which is externally threaded at each end, asindicated at 42 and 43. On one end of the body or cylinder M I provide acap 44 having an aperture 45 therein and including a flange portion 46which is threaded as at 41 to engage the threads 42 on the cylinder 4|.Adjacent the aperture 45 the cap 44 is formed concave as indicated at48; On

the opposite end of the cylinder 4i I provide a cap 50 which includes aflange portion 5i having internal threads 52 which engage the threads 43of the cylinder 4!.

I:he inner face of the cap 50 has a recess 53 therein the outer edge ofwhich is of approximately the same diameter as the inside of thecylinder 4|. The cap 55 further includes a reduced recess 54 which'opens into the recess 53 and'a 'much greater reduced coaxial elongatedrecess or valve chamber. 55.

At one side the cap 50 includes a boss 56 having a threaded recess 51therein with which one end of an aperture 58 communicates. The oppositeend of the aperture 58 communicates with the valve chamber 55. Theaperture 58 is positioned at right angles to the chamber 55 and the endof the aperture 58 where it opens into the chamber 55 is preferably ofless diameter than the opposite end.

Embedded in the cap 50 and extending therefrom .I provide a plurality ofbolts 59 for-clamping the device 40 to a bracket 60 by nuts iii. The

bracket 60 may be mounted on a portion of the engine or the automobileframe adjacent the clutch in any desired manner.

Positioned in the cylinder M I provide a piston member which I haveindicated generally at 62. As shown the piston includes a front member63 an intermediate member 64 and a 7 rear member 65'. The front portion63 includes a hub portion 66 and an enlarged flange portion 61 having arecess 68 in the face thereof opposite the hub portion. The recess 68opens through V, the periphery of the flange 61 and has a packing ring69 positioned therein whichincludes a skirt portion 18 which overlaysthe outer edge of the flange.

The hub portion 66 has a recess 1i therein which includes a threadedsection 12 adjacent the 'hub 14 of the rear piston member is threaded asat 19 to engage the threads 12 of the front piston member. The front andrear piston members are spaced apart by the intermediate mem- .ber 64which includes a hub portion 88 and spaced front and rear enlargedplate'portions BI and 82'; respectively. The hub portion 88 has anaperture 83 therein in which the hub 14 of the rear piston member is.positioned. The front plate 8i extends outward and overlays the packingring 69 of the front piston member while the rear flange e 82 includesa. skirt portion 84, the outer face of which is engaged by the skirt 18of the packing ring 11 of the rear piston member.

The front and rear flanges 8i and- 82 and the hub 88 of the intermediatemember are all connected by a pluralityof radially extending in-.-tegral ribs (see Fig. 5). The ribs 85 extend outward only as far as theinner face of the skirt portion 84 of the rearplate 82. Surround-l ingthe ribs 85 between the plates BI and 82,1 provide a flat spring ring 86and surrounding the spring ring 86 I provide a felt ring 81 which isadapted to be saturated with a lubricant, such as neats foot oil.

The rear face of the rear piston member 65 has a slightly protrudingboss, 88 thereon which has a polygonal recess 89 therein and the hubportion 14 has a reduced recess 98 therein which communicates with therecess.

- Mounted on the rear member 65 of the piston I provide a valve memberindicated generally at 9I. As shown the valve member includes a stemportion 92 which is driven into the recess 98 and cap 58 thereof and thepiston I provide a conical spring 99 the base of which is' positioned inthe cap recess 54 and the opposite end of the spring surrounds thepiston boss 89. The spring 99 normally urges the piston 62 towards thefront cap 44 to the position shown in Fig. .2.

Positioned in the recess 1 I of the piston I-pro and in the recess H Iprovide a felt packing washer I88. Opposite the washer I68 I provide aplate member I88 having a concave recess I88 therein in which the ballMI is positioned. Positioned in the recess 1| between the plate memberI88 and the end of the hub 14 I provide a coiled spring I88 The ballmember I8I includes a shank 582 which extends out of the hub through theaperture 13 and is suitably secured to a head member I83 as by threadedengagement therewith as indicated'at I84 and is locked in'position by anut I84. The head member I83 has a recess I85 therein and an apertureI86-therein which communicates with the recess I85. Positioned in therecess I85 I provide a ball socket which is indicated generally at I81.The end of the head I83 opposite the shank I82 includes an inclinedworking face I88. 1

The socket member I81 spaced plates I81 one of which is movable in therecess I85; Each of the plates I 81 have a concave recess I81 in oneface thereof and the plates are. positioned with the recesses I81-facing towards each other. The head'I83 includes a reducedrecess I81which communicates with the recess I85. Positioned in the recess I81 Iprovide a coiled spring I81 one end of which engages the bottom of therecess I81 and the other end engages the movable plate. I81 andresiliently urges it towards the other plate.

Positioned between the front cap 44 and the head member I83 I provide aconical spring I89, the base of which is positioned in the concaverecess 48 of the cap and the opposite end of which engages the headmember I83. The spring I89 like the spring 99 resiliently urges thepiston 8i towards the front cap 44.

Positioned over the spring I89 between the cap 44 and the head memberI83 I preferably provide a corrugated flexible dust cover or boot II8,one end of which may be held in position by the base of the spring I09clamping it to the cap 44 and the opposite endby the small end of thespring clamping it to the head member I83.

Mounted on and suitably secured to. the clutch actuating shaft I providean operating arm II2 which includes a reduced portion II3 having a ballmember iI4 thereon. The reduced portion II3 of the operating arm H2 'ispositioned in the head aperture I86 and the ball member H4 is positionedin the ball socket I81 of the head member between the plates I81 withthe surfaces of the concave recesses I81 engaging the ball.

In the floor board I9 of the automobile adjacent the device 48 Iprovidea manuallyactuated device II5 for manually moving the piston 62. Asshown the floor board I9 has an aperture II6 thereon in which a cupmember I I1 is positioned opening into the operators compartment I5 andhaving an enlarged flange II8 thereon which is secured to the floorboard by screws I I9. The cup member II1 has an aperture I28 therein inwhich a rod I2I is positioned. In the operators compartment the rod I2Ihas an enlarged head I22 thereon and the opposite end of the rodincludes a reduced threaded portion I23 on which an enlarged nut memberI24 is positioned. Surround ing the rod I2I between the bottom of thecup includes a pair of member and the head I22 I provide a coiled springI25 which resiliently urges the rod I2I towards the operatorsnompartment.

Interposed between the fuel intake manifold and the carburetor outletmanifold 2| I provide a valve member indicated generally at I (see Figs.3-6 and 7). As shown the valve member I26 includes a body portion I21having an externally threaded boss I23 extending therefrom and anintegral insert plate portion I29. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the insertplate l29'has the same shape as that of the connecting flanges 20 and2I' of the intake manifold 20 and the carburetor manifold 2| betweenwhich it is positioned. Furthermore, the insert plate I20 has anaperture I30 therein of the same size as the interlor of'the manifolds20 and 2|.

The valve body I21 has a chamber I 3| therein and a threaded apertureI32 which opens through plate portion I28 have an aperture I38 therein.

one end of which opens into the plate aperture 7 I30 and the oppositeend into the recess I33. 7

One end of a conduit member I31 is suitably secured to'the threaded bossI28 of the valve I38 by a coupling member I38 and the opposite end ofthe conduit I31 is suitably connected to a coupling member I39 which ispositioned in the threaded recess 51 of the boss 55 of the device 40.

Positioned in the threaded aperture I32 of the valve body I21 I providea nut member I40 which has a recess I4I therein opening through thebottom thereof and a reduced aperture I42 which communicates with therecess HI and opens through the top of the nut member.

Positioned in the chamber I3I I provide a valve member I43 whichincludes a head portion I44 having a reduced shank I45 extendingtherefrom which is positioned -in the aperture I42 of the nut memberI40. The valve shank I45 is of slightly less diameter than the diameterof the nut aperture I42 to allow passage of air through the aperture I42 into the chamber I3I. Extending upward from the shank I45 I provide astem member I 43 one end of which is threaded into the shank I45 and theopposite end of which is flared out and has an aperture I48 therein.

Positioned in the recess I4I of the nut member I40 and surrounding thevalve shank I45 between the valve head I44 and the bottom of the recessI4I I provide a coiled spring I43. The spring I43 resiliently urges thevalve head I44 into engagement with the valve seat I35 to cut oi!passageway from the recess I33 into the chamber I3I.

The lower end of the nut member includes a seat portion I50 and theupper portion of the valve head I44 includes a seat portion I5I so thatwhen the valve is moved upward against the action of the spring I43 intoengagement with the nut I40 the valve seat I5I engages the nut seat I50and restricts passage of air through the nut aperture I42 into thechamber I3I.

Loosely mounted on the butterfly valve shaft II I provide a rockermember I52 which includes an arm I53 extending from one side of theshaft and an arm I54 extending from the opposite side.

of the shaft. The arm I53 is positioned in the aperture I43 of the valvestem I46.

Mounted on and suitably secured to the butterfly valve shaft 3i betweenthe manifold and the rocker member I52 I provide an operating arm I55 towhich the throttle rod 32 is connected in the usual manner. Extendingoutward from the operating arm I55 in the same direction as the arm I54of the rocker member I52 I provide an arm I58 which is bent at rightangles adjacent its outer end to form a finger portion I51 which isadapted to engage the upper edge of the rocker arm I54.

The arm I58 is arranged so that when the,

I51 engages the rocker arm I54 and holds it down thereby retaining therocker arm I53 in raised position which in turn retains the valve I48 ina raised position as shown in Fig. 3. When the butterfly valve operatingarm I55 is moved to open the butterfly valve 30 to open thepassagewaythrough the manifold 2|, the finger I51 of the arm I58 moves out ofengagement with the rocker arm I54 whereupon the spring I48 moves thevalve member I43 downward as shown in Fig. 6.

The operation of the device 40 is as follows. The operator oftheautomobile I0 starts the engine I1 which as it draws fuel from thecarburetor 22 forms a suctionin the manifolds 20 and 2| when thebutterfly valve 30 is open. I The idling fuel is directed to the enginein the usual manner when the butterfly valve is closed. After the enginehas warmed up the operator allows the spring 34 to close the, butterflyvalve 30 whereupon the valve I43 is moved upward to the position shownin Fig. 3 as previously described. Buction is then formed in the conduitI31 and in the cylinder 4| which draws the piston 82 towards the rearcap 50 to the position shown in Fig. 4. As the piston 82 is thus movedthe head member I03 moves with it and in turn swings 'the clutchoperating arm 2' about the axis of the shaft 21 thereby rotating theshaft 21 to actuate the clutch to a disengaged position.-

Thereafter the operator may shift the transmission gears from theneutral position to any position desired. I

When the piston 82 is in this release position the piston valve memberBI is positioned in the valve chamber 55 of the cap with the annularportion 81 thereof at the rear of the aperture 53 as shown in 'Fig. 4.

After shifting gears the operator steps on the accelerator pedal 23 andopens the butterfly valve 30 to allow the engine to draw more fuelthereto. When the butterfly valve 30 is opened the finger I51 of the armI56 moves out of engagement with the rocker arm I54 whereupon the valveI43 duit I31 to break the vacuum therein through the nut aperture I42 ofthe valve device I26.

The piston valve member BI is so arranged that when the suction is firstdiscontinued the piston 4o. dicated by similar reference numerals.

62 will move forward fast until the annular por tion 91 of the valve 9|moves to a position adjacent the forward side of the aperture 58 asshown in Fig. 8. When the valve 9I is in this position less aircan'entcr the piston from the chamber 55 thereby causing the speed ofthe piston to decrease. 1 This action occurs at the time the clutchplates are in the act of engaging. Upon continued movement of the piston62 the annular portion 91 of the valve 9I moves outof the valve chamber55 whereupon the speed of the piston increases until it reaches theforward position, as

' shown in Fig. 2.

J initial position and the clutch springs and the springs 99 and I69return the piston 62 to its If it is desired to start the engine whenthe transmission is in gear or if for any reason it is desired tomanually actuate the clutch to a re-- lease position the operator stepson the head I22 of the rod I2I and moves the rod towards the enginecompartment and as the rod I2'I is thus actuated the nut head I24thereon engages the head member I63 of the device 46 and upon continuedmovement moves the piston 62 rearward and swings the clutch operatingarm H2 to actuate the clutch to a disengaged position. When the operatorremoves his foot from the rod I2I the spring I25 returns the rod to itsinitial position.

In some instances it may not be desirable to use the valve device I26whereupon as shown in Fig. 9 the conduit I31 may be tapped or coupleddirectly into either the conduit 26 or 2| intermediate the butterflyvalve 36 and the engine I1, 'as indicated at I58.

In Fig. 10 I have indicated my vacuum operated brake operating devicegenerally at I66. As

shown the device I66 is the same as the device 46 in all respectsexoeptthat the piston valve 9i is omitted and the various parts thereof arein- When thedevice I66 is used to actuate the brake operating device 26the usual foot brake lever is removed and afoot brake lever I6I and anoperating lever I62 substituted therefor. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12 astationary stud shaft I63 is mounted on the bracket 26 of the brakeoperat ing member 26 and rotatably positioned on the shaft I63 I providea sleeve I64 which is square in cross-section. Each of the levers I6Iand I62 have a square aperture I66 therein in which the square sleeveI64 is 'positioned- The cross sectional area of the apertures I65 in thelevers is slightly greater than the cross sectional area of thesleeveI64 so that the levers can rock a predetermined amount onthe sleevewithout rotating the sleeve on the shaft I63. Intermediate the width ofeach of the levers I6I and I62 the sleeve has an aperture I66 in eachface thereof in which a coiled spring I61 is positioned. I

.The lower end of the lever I62 includes a re 7 duced portion I66 havinga ball member I69 thereon. The reduced ,portion I68 of, the lever I62 ispositioned in the aperture I66 of the head member I63 and the ballmember I69 is engaged Mounted on the brake foot lever I6I I provide avalve device indicated generally at I12. As shown the valve device I12includes a body portion I13 which has a pair of spaced externallythreaded bosses I14 and I15 extending therefrom and is secured to thelever I6I by a plurality of bolts and nuts I16. The body I13 has achamber I11 therein and a threaded aperture I16, one end of whichcommunicates with the chamber I11 and the opposite end opens out of thebody.

Positioned in the threaded aperture I18 I provide a nut member I19which'is similar to the nut member I40 of the valve device I26. This nutmember. has a recess I4I' therein opening through the bottom thereof anda reduced aperture I42 which communicates with the recess 122i and opensthrough the top of the nut mem- Positioned in the chamber I11 I providea valve member I 86 which is similar to the valve member I43 of thedevice I26 and which includes a head portion I44 having a reduced shankI45 extending therefrom which is positioned in the aperture I42 of thenut member I19. The valve shank I45 is of slightly less diameter thanthe diameter of the nut aperture I42 to allow passage of air throughtheaperture I42 into the chamber I1'I. Extending upward from the shankI45 I provide'a stem member I46" one end of which is threaded 'into theshank I46 and the opposite end of which is flared out and has anaperture I48 therein. The body I73 further includes a recess I6I one endof which opens into the chamber I11 where' it has a seat portion I82therearound, and a. pair of spaced apertures I63 and I84. One end of theaperture I83 opens into the chamber III and the opposite end opensthrough the end of the threaded boss I14. One end of the aperture I 84opens into the recess I6I and the opposite end opens through the end ofthe threaded .boss I 15. Positioned in the recess HI of the nutmemberI19 and surrounding the valve shank I between the valve head I44 and thebottom of the recess HI. I provide La coiled spring I49. The spring I46resiliently urges the valve head I44 into engagement with the valve seatI82 to cut off passageway from the recess I8I into the chamber I11.

A conduit I85 is connected to the threaded boss I14 by a suitablecoupling member I86 and one end of an armored flexible conduit memberI61 is suitably connected to-the conduit I85, as indicated at I86. Theopposite end of the flexible conduit is connected as at I 69 to asuitable coupling member I96 which. is positioned in the threadedrecess51 of the device I66.

One end of a conduit I9I is connected to the threaded boss I15 of thedevice I12 by a suitable coupling member I92 and the opposite end of theconduit communicates with the interior of the manifold 26. through asuitable coupling member I93 (see Fig. 1).

The lever I62 includes an upwardly extending arm I94 which is positionedin the aperture I46 of the valve stem I46.

The .operation oi the device I66 to actuate the brake operating device26 is as follows. The op erator of the automobile places his foot on thepedal portiqn I6I of the lever I6I and pushes it towards the enginecompartment thereby swinging the lever I6I about the axis of the shaftI63 away from the brake operating device 26. When the lever I6I is thusmoved the valve device I1 2 moves with it. Due to the lever I6Ibeing'able to slightly rock on the sleeve I64 without rotating thesleeve the first portion of the travel ofthe lever IEI does not rotatethe sleeve 164. During this first portion. of the travel of the leverI6I as it rocks on the sleeve I64 the valve I of the device I72 isretained stationary by the arm I94 of the lever I62 and the valve seatI82 moves out of engagement with the valve head I44 whereupon a partialvacuum is created in the conduits I and I81 and in the cylinder 4!whereupon the piston 62 is drawn towards the cap 50. i

As the piston 62 moves towards the cap 56 through the medium of the headI03 it swings the lever I62 about the axis of the shaft I63 towards thebrake operating device '28 thereby actuating the brake operating arm 26"to operate to apply the brakes I4. As'the lever I62 is thus moved aftertaking up its rocking slack on the sleeve I84 it helps to rotate thesleeve I64 about the axis of the shaft I63 thereby lessening the eifortof the operator of the automobile as he applies the brakes.

When the operator releases the pressure on the lever IBI the seat I82 ofthe device I12 moves into engagement with the valve head I44 therebybreaking the partial vacuum in the conduits I85 and I81 and in thecylinder 4| whereupon the springs 99and I09 return .the piston 62 to itsnormal position and the spring I'll returns the foot brake lever I6l toits normal position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provideda novel vacuum operated device for actuating various mechanisms which issimple in construction and highly efficient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a power actuator, a cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder, arod, means to universally connect said rod to said piston, a headmember, means to adjustably connect the rod to the head member, an arm,means to universally mount the arm on the head member, said head memberhaving a cam surface thereon and means adapted to coact with said camsurface to move the head member and piston.

2. In a power actuator, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a cap onsaid cylinder, said cap including a concave portion, a head member,means to connect the head member to the piston, a rear member on thecylinder, said rear member having a recess therein,.a spring disposed insaid recess and engaging said piston, a spring engaging said concaveportion and said head member and a boot connecting the cap member andthe head member.

3. In a vacuum power actuator for automotive vehicles provided with aninternal combustion engine having a throttle controlled suction passage,a cylinder, a conduit communicating at one end with the interior of saidcylinder, a valve device, said device including a body portion having achamber therein, said bodyhaving an aperture therein opening into saidchamber, said body including aseat portion surrounding said aperture atsaid chamber end, said body having a passageway therein adapted to beplaced in communication with an engine suction passage, said body havinga threaded aperture therein opening into said chamber, said body'havinga third aperture therein opening into said chamber, said conduitcommunicating with said third aperture and a nut member in said threadedaperture, said nut member having an aperture opening into said chamber,a valve, said valve including a head por ion and a shank portion, saidvalve head being positioned in said chamber and said shank beingpositioned in said nut aperture, said shank being of less crosssectional area than said nut aperture, said valve head including a seatportion and the inner end of said nut including a coacting seat portion,a coiled spring positioned in said nut member, said spring surroundingsaid shank and'engaging said valve head and said nut, said shank havingan aperture therein and a stem in said shank aperture.

4. In a vacuum power actuator for automotive vehicles provided with aninternal combustion engine having a throttle controlled suction passage,a cylinder, a conduit communicating at one end with the interior of saidcylinder, a valve device, said device including a body portion having achamber therein, said body having an aperture therein opening into saidchamber, said body including a seat portion surrounding said aperture atsaid chamber end, said body having a passageway therein adapted to beplaced in communication with an engine suction passage, said body havinga threaded aperture therein opening into said chamber, said body havinga third aperture therein opening into said chamber, said conduitcommunicating with said third aperture and a nut member in said threadedaperture, said nut member having an aperture opening into said chamber,a valve, said valve including a head portion and a shank portion, saidvalve head being positioned in said chamber and said shank beingpositioned in said nut aperture, said shank being of less crosssectional area than said nut aperture, said valve head including a seatportion and the inner end of said nut including a coacting seat portion,said valve head having a recess therein, a coiled spring positioned insaid valve head recess, said spring surrounding said shank and engagingsaid nut, said shank having an aperture therein and a stem in said shankaperture, said stem including means adapted to receive an operating arm.

5. In a vacuum power actuator for automotive vehicles provided withaninternal combustion engine having a throttle controlled suction passage,a cylinder, a conduit communicating at one end with the interior of saidcylinder, a valve device, said device including a body portion having achamber therein, said body having an aperture therein opening into saidchamber, said body including a seat portion surrounding said aperture atsaid chamber end, said body having a passageway therein adapted to beplaced in communication with an engine suction passage, said body havinga threaded aperture therein opening into said chamber and coaxial withsaid first aperture, said body having a third aperture therein openinginto said chamber at right angles to said first two apertures, saidconduit communicating with said third aperture, a nut member in saidthreaded aperture, said nut memberhaving an aperture opening into saidchamber, a'valve, said valve including a head portion and a shankportion, said valve head being positioned in said chamber and said shankbeing positioned in said nut aperture, said shank being of less crosssectional area than said nut aperture, said valve head including a seatportion and the inner end of said mit including a coacting seat portion,a coiled spring surrounding said shank and engaging said nut, saidshank= having a threaded aperture therein, a stem threaded into saidshank aperture-and a lock nut on said stem engaging an aperture thereinadapted to receive an operating arm.

6. In a power actuator, a cylinder, one end of said cylinder beingclosed, said closed end of said cylinder having a valve chamber thereoncommunicating with the interior of said cylinder and having an aperturecommunicating therewith at right angles to the axis of said chamber, avalve member mounted on said piston at the end thereof toward saidclosed endof said cylinder, said valve member extending from said pistonand including a shank portion and an enlarged head portion, said valvewhen said piston is adjacentthe open end of said cylinder being out ofsaid valve chamber and when said piston is at the limit of its traveltoward the closed end of said cylinder being positioned in said valvechamber with said annular portion thereof positioned beyond saidaperture in the closed end of said cylinder.

7. In a power actuator for a clutch device, a cylinder, one end of saidcylinder being closed, said closed end of said cylinder having a valvechamber thereon communicating with the .interior of said-cylinder andhaving an aperture communicating therewith, aconduit, one end of saidconduit communicating with said cylinder aperture and the opposite endbeing adapted to communicate with a conduit, a piston in said cylinder,a head member, means connecting said head member and said piston at theend thereof opposite the closed end of said cylinder, means adapted toconnect said head member and an actuating means, a valve member mountedon said piston at the end thereof toward said closed end of saidcylinder, said valve member extending from said piston and including ashank portion and an enlarged head portion, said valve head including acylindrical portion, a tapering portion merging into said shank and atapering portion on the opposite side of said cylindrical portion, saidvalve when said piston is adjacent the open end of said cylinder beingout of said valve chamber and when said piston is at the limit of itstravel toward the closed end of said cylinder being positioned in saidvalve chamber with said annular portion thereof positioned beyond saidaperture in the closed end "of said cylinder.

8. For use with a vehicle including an internal combustion engine havinga suction fuel feed system including a fuel conduit having shut-offmeans for controlling the passage of fuel-to said engine and including aclutch device having operating means to actuate said clutch into and outof engagement, a cylinder, one end of said cylinder being closed, saidclosed end of said cylinder having a valve chamber thereon communicatingwith the interior of said cylinder and having an aperture communicatingtherewith at right angles to the axis of said chamber, a con- I I duit,one end of said conduit communicating with said cylinder aperturearidthe opposite end being adapted to communicate with a fuel conduitintermediate the shut-off means and the cylinders of said cylinder, ahead member, ball and socket means connecting said head member and saidpiston at'the end thereof opposite the closed end head member and anactuating means, a-valve member mounted on said piston at the endthereof toward said closed end of said cylinder, said valve memberextending from said piston and of said cylinder'being out of said valvechamber and when said piston is at the limit of its travel toward theclosed end of said cylinder being positioned in said valve chamber. withsaidannular portion thereof positioned beyond said aperture in theclosed end of said cylinder.

9. In a vacuum power actuator for automotive vehicles provided with aninternal combustion engine having a controlled suction passage, acylinder, a conduit communicating at one end with the interior of saidcylinder, a valve device, said device including a body portion having achamber therein, said body having an aperture therein opening into saidchamber, said body having a passageway therein in communication with theengine suction passage, said passageway communicating with said chamber,said body having a recess opening into said chamber and open to theatmosphere, said body having a second aperture therein opening into saidchamber, said conduit communicating with said third aperture, a valveincluding a head portion in said chamber and a shank portion in saidrecess, means engag'ed by said valve to control passage between saidfirst aperture and the chamber, said valve including a portion adaptedto close-communication through the recess between the chamber and theatmosphere, resilient means in said recess and engaging said valve tonormally urge said valve in one direction to a position to prevent flowthrough said first aperture and other means to move the valve in areverse direction.' 7

10. Ina vacuum power. actuator for automotive vehicles provided with aninternal combustion engine having a controlled suction passage, acylinder, a conduit communicating at one end with the interior of saidcylinder, a valve device, said device including a body portion having achamber therein, said body having an aperture therein opening into saidchamber, said body havinga passageway therein in communication with theengine suction passage, said passageway communicating with said chamber,said body having a recess opening into said chamber and open to theatmosphere, said body having a second aperture therein opening into saidchamber, said conduit communicating with said third aperture, a valveincluding a head portion in said chamber and a shank portion in saidrecess, means engaged by said valve to control passage between saidfirst aperture and the chamber, said valve including a portion adaptedto close communication through the recess between the chamber and theatmosphere, a stem in said valve, resilient means in said recess andabout the valve stem and engaging said valve to move it in onedirection, means to adjust said resilient means to vary the pressure onthe valve and other means to move the valve in a reverse direction.

' MCKINIEY PALMER.

